Super Bowl 2013: 49ers report card

NEW ORLEANS -- Here is how the 49ers graded in their 34-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Sunday's Super Bowl XLVII:

Pass offense: Colin Kaepernick's final three passes were incompletions to Michael Crabtree instead of a go-ahead touchdown, a sequence that will haunt the 49ers until they can redeem themselves in another Super Bowl. Kaepernick started slow and had an overthrown pass intercepted when trying to hit Randy Moss, who bafflingly didn't reach for the ball. Kaepernick then fired his trademark darts to rack up 302 yards. The 49ers also had two receivers eclipse 100 yards: Crabtree (five catches, 109 yards, touchdown) and Vernon Davis (six catches, 104 yards). Moss had only two catches for 41 yards and the 49ers go into an offseason again needing an upgrade at wide receiver. Grade: B-

Run offense: Frank Gore didn't disappoint in his Super Bowl debut (19 carries, 110 yards). His final carry of a special season was a 33-yard run to the 7-yard line that should have been parlayed into a winning touchdown. Kaepernick (seven rushes, 62 yards, touchdown) came within 2 yards of Steve McNair's record of most rushing yards by a quarterback in a Super Bowl. LaMichael James' second-quarter fumble was a costly mistake, and he had only two other carries while totaling 10 yards. One of the 49ers' greatest lines ever comported itself well. Grade: B

Run defense: The 49ers' strongest unit stepped up and allowed only 2.7 yards per carry. Ray Rice's longest run went for only 12 yards as he tallied 59 yards on 20 carries. Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman combined for 19 tackles. The Ravens wisely didn't rely on a rushing game. Grade: A-

Special teams: Giving up a 108-yard kickoff return to Jacoby Jones was an unfathomable way to start the second half and fall into a 28-6 hole. Ted Ginn Jr., with his ailing father in the stands, had a terrific 32-yard punt return amid the third-quarter scoring spree. But Ginn's game-ending return was curious. David Akers made all three of his field-goal attempts (ahem, after a penalty gave him a do-over). Grade: C-

Coaching: It's remarkable how the 49ers get their players to rebound from early deficits. But falling behind 28-6 and ultimately losing begs so many questions for Jim Harbaugh to ponder this offseason. Abandoning the run (and Frank Gore) for the final three snaps was a bad call. As much as Harbaugh hated on the officials, this loss was keyed by familiar woes that followed the 49ers all season, especially breakdowns in pass coverage and special teams. Grade: C-